Abstract

Wait times for medical procedures in Canada continue to be a major issue in the delivery of timely health care. Patients scheduled to undergo surgery for urological malignancies, which include prostate, bladder, kidney and testes cancer, are among the many affected populations. To address these important issues, a Surgical Wait Time (SWAT) initiative was undertaken. The SWAT initiative, whose members consist of urological oncologists, surgeons and methodologists was mandated to assess current wait times in Canada, review the relevant literature on the surgical wait times for urological cancers and then develop a consensus document that can serve as a guide for patients, physicians and other key stakeholders in the Canadian health care system.